27 years young and 1.222 games of expe­ri­ence

Image information: Next Stop Vienna! Austria’s players are entering the fourth week of World Championship preparations - Copyright: GEPA pictures/Amir Beganovic

CLICK HERE for the squad

Austria’s two strong performances against Italy at the weekend have made it Head Coach Roger Bader difficult to reduce the squad: “Unfortunately, that is part of the game. Such decisions are always difficult. I appreciate every single player who has been with the national team in recent weeks. Every one of them fought for a place at the World Championship; they did a good job and more than underlined their sporting value.”

In goal, the decision was made in favour of the trio of Bernhard Starkbaum, David Kickert and David Madlener, who will also form the World Championship goaltending group.

Among the defencemen, the squad has been reduced from twelve to ten players, while among the forwards it has been cut from 18 to 15. The squad for the Euro Hockey Challenge therefore consists of 28 players.

“Our focus is now on the games. Three matches in four days, and exclusively against fellow contenders for the World Championship title, mean that we are forced to take the next step,” explains Roger Bader.

While the focus in previous weeks was on their own game, rhythm, strength and endurance, etc., the task now is to get used to the match rhythm, high tempo and individual quality of the top nations, Roger Bader: “Adapting to that will be our task.”

On Thursday, Austria will face eleven-time world champions Sweden in Vienna in front of a home crowd. Sweden will also be their opening opponents at the A-WM in Tampere.

Following the Euro Hockey Challenge, in which Austria will face further contenders Finland, the reigning Olympic champions, and the Czech Republic at the weekend, the squad will be reduced once again.

At the final team camp in Schwenningen (GER), the squad will then comprise 26 players, with 25 ultimately travelling to Finland.

Marco Kasper will join the national team next week, while no decision has yet been made regarding AHL export Marco Rossi.

Four Nations Tournament, Ostrava, from 28 April to 1 May
28 April 2022, 19:00, AUT - SWE, Vienna
30 April 2022, 12:00, AUT - FIN in Ostrava
1 May 2022, 16:00, CZE - AUT in Ostrava

Camp IV, Schwenningen
8 May 2022, 17:00, GER - AUT in Schwenningen

Camp I, Linz, from 2 to 8 April 2022

Austria vs Czechia 1:4 (1:1,0:1,0:2)
Fri, 08 April 2022, 17:30, LINZ AG Eisarena, 1.850 
Austria goalscorer: Erik Kirchschläger (12 min)

Czechia vs Austria 5:1 (3:0, 2:0, 0:1)
Wed, 06 April 2022, 17.30, Znojmo
Austria goalscorer: Nico Feldner (48 min)

Camp II, Graz, from 11 to 16 April 2022

Austria vs Poland 1:0 (0:0,1:0,0:0)
Sat, 16 April 2022, 16:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion
Austria goalscorer: Philipp Pöschmann (30 min)

Austria vs Poland 4:1 (1:0,0:0,3:1)
Thu, 14 April 2022, 19:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion
Austria goalscorers: David Maier (7 min), Simeon Schwinger (49 min), Oliver Achermann (PP/57 min), Sam Antonitsch (58 min)
Poland goalscorer: Filip Starzynski (47 min)

Camp III, Innsbruck, from 20 to 25 April 2022

Italy vs Austria 2:1 (0:1/1:0/1:0)
23 April 2022, 17:30, Bruneck
Austria goalscorer: Ali Wukovits (20th minute)

Austria vs. Italy 5:0 (2:0/1:0/2:0)
24 April 2022, 14:30, Innsbruck
Austria goalscorers: Nico Feldner (2nd minute), Benjamin Nissner (18th minute), Benjamin Baumgartner (18th/36th minute), Dominic Zwerger (54th minute), Thomas Raffl (59th minute)

Sweden vs. Austria
Sat, 14 May 2022, 11:20

Austria vs. USA
Sun, 15 May 2022, 15:20

Czechia vs. Austria
Tue, 17 May 2022, 15:20

Norway vs. Austria
Wed, 18 May 2022, 15:20

Latvia vs. Austria
Fri, 20 May 2022, 19:20

Austria vs. Finland
Sat, 21 May 2022, 15:20

Austria vs. Great Britain
Mon, 23 May 2022, 19:20